Cassette with consumable tape, in particular for transport ticket processing device

ABSTRACT

The invention concerns a replaceable cassette comprising first and second rotary rollers (BO 1  and BO 2 ) on each of which is wound a tape (RE) from one of its ends, each roller (BO 1  and BO 2 ), being capable of being locked on a receiving apparatus spindle drive. The cassette comprises a mechanism tensioning the tape, capable, when the cassette is outside the receiving apparatus, of maintaining said tape constantly stretched even if an impact, a change in temperature, a mechanical stress or the like occurs.

The present invention relates to a cassette with consumable tape, inparticular for transport ticket processing device.

It has a general application for consumable tape, and more particularlyfor inking tape used in particular for thermal printing, for example,for processing transport tickets.

Cassettes with consumable tape are already known. In the InternationalApplication published with no. WO 96/11872, a replaceable cassettecomprises a carcass supporting rotatably two reels on each of which iswound a tape from one of its ends, each reel comprising an axial bore inorder to be fitted on to a spindle of a ticket processing deviceintended to receive the cassette.

The cassette comprises disengageable locking means to prevent each reelfrom turning in the direction of slackening of the tape. Before mountingof the cassette, these disengageable means keep the two reels in aposition where the tape is taut in the region where it must bepositioned relative to the thermal printing device.

In practice, the disengageable locking means comprise two toothed discs(one per reel) and two ratchets each cooperating with the toothing ofone of the discs in order to prevent rotation of the corresponding reelin the direction of slackening of the exposed region of tape. The tworatchets are opposite one another and are formed as a single springblade with an actuating region joining them. When the two ratchets arein an active position, each reel can only turn in one direction,contrary to that allowed for the other reel, and corresponding to anincrease in tension of the exposed region of the tape.

During manufacture of the cassette, a reasonable tension is imparted tothe tape and in particular to its exposed region, and this tension ismaintained during transport, storage and fitting of the cassette byvirtue of the disengageable locking means, which remain activethroughout this period.

Such locking means are not totally satisfactory. In fact, the tape mayslacken, for example, due to changes in temperature and impacts whichmay arise during transport or storage of the cassette. This slackeningof the tape cannot be compensated, since the reels are locked in a fixedposition. Consequently, insertion of the cassette into the receivingdevice may be interfered with, sometimes to the point of damage to thetape.

Moreover, the locking position of the reels depends on the play of thetoothing of the wheels cooperating with the ratchets, which makes suchlocking imperfect.

Finally, the disengagement of the locking means is generally effected byan operator, and this manual operation is generally difficult to carryout.

The present invention brings a solution to these problems.

It relates to a replaceable tape comprising first and second rotatingreels on each of which is wound a tape starting from one of its ends,each reel being capable of fitting over a spindle of a receivingapparatus.

According to a general definition of the invention, the cassettecomprises a mechanism for tensioning the tape, capable, when thecassette is outside the receiving apparatus, of keeping the tape taut ina substantially constant manner even in the case of impact, change oftemperature, mechanical stress or the like.

Thus, by virtue of the tensioning mechanism of the tape according to theinvention, the tape is kept constantly taut even in the case of impactsor changes of temperature during transport, storage or fitting of thecassette in the receiving apparatus.

According to a first embodiment of the invention, the mechanism of theinvention comprises:

first means of driving rotatably the first reel in a first direction,

locking means capable of rendering non-rotatable the second reel, and

means forming a resilient recall, capable when the cassette is outsidethe receiving apparatus of applying a stress to the first drive meansand to the locking means, such that with the second reel locked, thefirst drive means drive rotatably the first reel until the tape reachesa selected position of tension, the stress of the means forming aresilient recall, making it possible to keep the tape taut according tothe selected tension position, whatever the conditions of transport,storage, impact, temperature, mechanical stress or the like.

According to a second embodiment of the invention, the mechanism of theinvention comprises:

first means for driving rotatably the first reel in a first direction,

second means for driving rotatably the second reel in a seconddirection, contrary to the first direction,

means forming a resilient recall, capable, when the cassette is outsidethe receiving apparatus, of applying a stress to the first and seconddrive means, such that the first and second drive means drive rotatablyrespectively the first and second reel in their respective directionsuntil any slack in the tape is compensated and the tape is brought intoa selected tension position, the stress of the means forming a resilientrecall making it possible to keep the tape taut according to theselected tension position, whatever the conditions of transport,storage, impact, temperature, mechanical stress or the like.

Further features and advantages of the invention will appear from thedetailed description below and from the drawings, which show:

FIG. 1, a diagrammatic, partial front view of the cassette, showing thetape tensioning mechanism before insertion of the cassette in areceiving apparatus, according to the invention; and

FIG. 2 a front view of the cassette, showing the clutch of the tapetensioning mechanism at the time when the cassette is inserted into thereceiving apparatus, according to the invention.

These drawings comprise elements of a definite character. As such, theymay not only give a better understanding of the invention, butcontribute to the definition thereof.

By way of non-limiting illustration, the cassette according to theinvention is intended to fit on to spindles supported by a ticketprocessing device of the type described in the International Applicationfiled by the present Applicants on Jun. 17, 1999 with the no. PCT/FR99/01465 with the title “Ticket processing device, with thermal printingand magnetic inscription/reading along a closed circuit internal path”.For information, this International Application forms an integral partof the description of the present invention.

With reference to FIG. 1, the cassette CA comprises a carcass composedof two end plates 2 and 4 fixed together by lateral walls (not shown).In the cassette CA, an inking tape RE is wound from a first end on toone of the reels BO1 and from the other end on to the other reel BO2.From each reel BO, the tape RE follows a path up to the end of arespective tip BC1, BC2 defined by the cassette CA. Between the two tipsBC1 and BC2, a region 6 of the tape RE is exposed for use.

The ticket processing device intended to receive the cassette generallycomprises two spindles (not shown) supported rotatably in the ticketprocessing device about parallel axes of rotation. Each spindle isintended to fit into the two tubular reels BO1 and BO2 supportedrotatably about parallel axes in the cassette carcass. The cassette maybe mounted exchangeably in the ticket processing device.

Each reel BO1, BO2 comprises a respective toothed wheel RO1, RO2. Eachreel BO comprises an axial cylindrical bore defined over the larger partof its length by a tube of substantially rigid plastics material. Thetube also defines the entirety of the external surface of the reel aswell as, in a single piece, the wheels RO1 and RO2.

Each reel is driven rotatably via at least one retractable key formingpart of the ticket processing device spindle and cooperating with atleast one groove formed in the bore of each reel.

According to the invention, a tape tensioning mechanism is provided.

The tape tensioning mechanism comprises the two toothed wheels RO1 andRO2 (one per reel), two racks CR1 and CR2, each cooperating with thetoothing of one of the wheels RO1 and RO2. The two racks are carried bya plate 10. The plate 10 is movable rotatably relative to the carcass,about an axis of rotation 12.

In practice, the rack CR1 has a generally curved shape, e.g. as an arcof a circle, centred relative to the axis 12. The rack CR1 is mobilerotatably about the axis 12. The rack CR1 has a toothed sector of alength permitting rotation of the wheel RO1 in the direction S1 in orderto take up any slack in the tape.

The toothed wheel RO1 is intended to be housed in a space defined by therack CR1, a stop 18 parallel to the rack CR1, diametrically opposite therack CR1 and connected to the same by a section of the plate 16.

According to a first embodiment of the mechanism according to theinvention, the rack CR2 is rectilinear and can be limited to a singletooth. The function of the rack CR2 is then to render the reel BO2non-rotatable. The rack CR2 may be replaced by a ratchet or a tappetintended to mesh with the toothed wheel RO2 in order to lock the same.When the two racks CR1 and CR2 are in the active position shown in FIG.1, the reel BO2 is non-rotatable, whereas the reel BO1 is capable ofrotating on itself along the rack CR1, the rack CR1 rotating about theaxis of rotation 12 in the direction S1.

In a second embodiment of the mechanism according to the invention, therack CR2 is similar to the rack CR1. Thus the rack CR2 is curved andcomprises a toothed sector of selected length. The function of a curvedrack CR2 is to drive the reel BO2 rotatably in the direction S2 oppositeto that S1 of the rack CR1 in order to take up any slack in the tape.

According to the invention, a spring 20 is provided to keep the tapesubstantially taut in a selected position of tension correspondingpreferably to a reasonable tension of the tape.

The spring 20 comprises an end 22 rigidly connected to the cassette andan end 24 rigidly connected to the plate 10.

The spring 20 makes it possible to transmit, via the plate 10, a torqueto at least one of the reels, in this case at least the reel BO1,whereas the reel BO2 is locked (in the case of a rack CR2 with one toothor of rectilinear shape) or rotatable (in the case of a curved rackCR2).

The spring forms an energy reserve whose energy is capable of beingapplied in order to keep the tape taut, whatever the conditions oftransport, storage, impact, mechanical stress or change of temperaturecapable of being applied to the tape.

Preferably, the axis of rotation 12 is disposed close to the receivingreel BO2 of the tape and remote from the tape output reel BO1. It shouldbe noted that the spring 20 forms a resilient recall which can bereplaced by a deformable blade of the same material as the plate, of asection and shape adapted to permit deformation under a given stress (inthis case rotation).

With reference to FIG. 1, the plate 10 additionally comprises a tip 36as well as a concave portion 28 followed by a shoulder 29.

FIG. 2 shows the insertion of the cassette described with reference toFIG. 1 into a receiving device, in this case a ticket processing devicesuch as described in the above-mentioned International Application filedin the name of the Applicant.

In practice, the ticket processing device comprises a fixed tappet 30.This tappet 30 is a locking tappet which locks the mechanism for keepingthe tape taut, in particular the plate 10 in a disengaged position untilthe next removal of the cassette.

The ticket processing device further comprises a moving tappet 32. Thedisplacement of the moving tappet 32 is effected in the directionindicated by the arrow F2. This displacement causes the plate 10 torotate in the direction of the arrow F1 until the tip 26 passes underthe tappet 30 which is holding the plate 10 in this disengaged position.

The moving tappet 32 is actuated in the direction indicated by the arrowF2 when, for example, the cover of the ticket processing device isclosed again or when the printing head is pivoted into the “print”position.

The movement of the tappet 32 corresponds to disengagement of themechanism for keeping the tape taut according to the invention and toprestressing of the spring ready for the next extension thereof. Thus,when the moving tappet 32 is in the position described with reference toFIG. 2, in dot-dash lines, the plate 10 is held in position by thelocking tappet 30. Removal of the cassette from the ticket processingdevice causes retraction of the tappet 30 (rigidly connected to theticket processing device) and actuation of the plate 10, which carriesout tensioning of the tape. The position of the tappet 32 shown in solidlines corresponds to the disengaged position of the plate.

The modus operandi relating to insertion of the cassette into theprocessing device is as follows.

First of all, the cassette is fitted on to the two spindles of theticket processing device.

The tappet 32 is in the rest position, shown in dot-dash lines in FIG.2. The cover of the processing device is then pulled down, and thetappet 32 moves from its rest position towards its operating position,as shown by the arrow F2.

This displacement causes the plate 10 to rotate in the direction F1(anti-clockwise direction).

This displacement causes prestressing of the locking tappet 30, whichlocks the plate 10 in a position such that the wheels RO1 and RO2 arefreely rotatable. Thus the tape can move past in the processing device.Locking of the plate is such that printing is carried out correctly,without hindrance from the plate.

In order to remove the cassette from its defined housing in the ticketprocessing device, the cassette must be removed from its spindles, whichcauses locking of the tappet 30 to be cancelled and the plate 10 torotate in a clockwise direction (opposite to direction F1).

The spring generates a torque which causes the plate 10 to rotate in aclockwise direction. The tape is kept taut with a substantially constanttension, whatever the conditions or stresses applied to the cassette inthe field of transport, storage or the presence of special conditions,in particular of temperature or mechanical stresses (acceleration).

Thus the spring applies a tension stress to the tape which is directlyproportional to the stress of the spring. This spring stress isinsensitive to impacts (in the field of transport or storage of thecassette) and to changes in temperature or mechanical stresses capableof generating expansion or slackening of the tape.

It should be noted that the disengagement of the mechanism for keepingthe tape taut according to the invention is a quasi-automatic operation,commanded for example by closure of the cover of the ticket processingdevice or by a control electromagnet of the printing head.

In practice, the plate 10 is formed of plastics material. As amodification, the plate may be replaced by any means capable of drivingat least one toothed wheel, for example a toothed belt or chain.

What is claimed is:
 1. A replaceable cassette comprising: a tape; firstand second rotating reels each having said tape wound therearoundbeginning with first and second ends, respectively, of said tape, eachof said first and second rotating reels adapted to fit over a spindle ofa receiving apparatus when said cassette is inside of and received inthe receiving apparatus, and each of said first and second rotatingreels including: a mechanism for maintaining said tape in a taut state,wherein said mechanism for maintaining said tape in said taut stateincludes first drive means for rotatably driving said first rotatingreel in a first direction, such that when said cassette is outside ofand not received in the receiving apparatus, said mechanism formaintaining said tape in said taut state, maintains said tape in saidtaut state in a substantially constant manner even during conditions ofany one of a group consisting of transport, storage, impact, change oftemperature, and mechanical stress, wherein said mechanism formaintaining said tape in said taut state further includes: locking meansfor preventing said second rotating reel from rotating; and means forforming a resilient recall, such that when said cassette is outside ofand not received in the receiving apparatus, said means for forming saidresilient recall applies a stress to said first drive means and to saidlocking means, and such that when said second rotating reel is preventedfrom rotating by said locking means, said first drive means rotatablydrives said first rotating reel until said tape reaches a preselectedposition of tension, said stress of said means for forming saidresilient recall aiding in maintaining said tape in said taut stateaccording to said preselected position of tension of said tape,regardless of said conditions of any one of said group consisting oftransport, storage, impact, change of temperature, and mechanicalstress, wherein each of said first and second rotating reels includes atoothed wheel and said locking means includes at least one tooth forpreventing said toothed wheel of said second rotating reel fromrotating.
 2. A replaceable cassette comprising: a tape; first and secondrotating reels each having said tape wound therearound beginning withfirst and second ends, respectively, of said tape, each of said firstand second rotating reels adapted to fit over a spindle of a receivingapparatus when said cassette is inside of and received in the receivingapparatus, and each of said first and second rotating reels including: amechanism for maintaining said tape in a taut state, wherein saidmechanism for maintaining said tape in said taut state includes firstdrive means for rotatably driving said first rotating reel in a firstdirection, such that when said cassette is outside of and not receivedin the receiving apparatus, said mechanism for maintaining said tape insaid taut state, maintains said tape in said taut state in asubstantially constant manner even during conditions of any one of agroup consisting of transport, storage, impact, change of temperature,and mechanical stress, wherein said mechanism for maintaining said tapein said taut state includes: second means for rotatably driving saidsecond rotating reel in a second direction, contrary to said firstdirection; means for forming a resilient recall, such that when saidcassette is outside of and not received in the receiving apparatus, saidmeans for forming said resilient recall applies a stress to said firstand second drive means, and said first and second drive means rotatablydrive said first and second rotating reels, respectively, in said firstand second directions, respectively, until any slack in said tape iscompensated for and said tape is brought into a preselected position oftension, said stress of said means for forming said resilient recallaiding in maintaining said tape in said taut state according to saidpreselected position of tension, regardless of said conditions of anyone of said group consisting of transport, storage, impact, change oftemperature, and mechanical stress.
 3. The replaceable cassetteaccording to claim 2, wherein each of said first and second rotatingreels includes a toothed wheel, and wherein said first means forrotatably driving said first rotating reel in said first directionincludes a curved rack, said curved rack being rotatable about an axisof rotation.
 4. The replaceable cassette according to claim 4, whereinany one of a group consisting of said locking means and said first andsecond drive means are carried by a plate, said plate being rotatableabout an axis of rotation.
 5. A replaceable cassette comprising: a tape;first and second rotating reels each having said tape wound therearoundbeginning with first and second ends, respectively, of said tape, eachof said first and second rotating reels adapted to fit over a spindle ofa receiving apparatus when said cassette is inside of and received inthe receiving apparatus, and each of said first and second rotatingreels including: a mechanism for maintaining said tape in a taut state,wherein said mechanism for maintaining said tape in said taut stateincludes first drive means for rotatably driving said first rotatingreel in a first direction, such that when said cassette is outside ofand not received in the receiving apparatus, said mechanism formaintaining said tape in said taut state, maintains said tape in saidtaut state in a substantially constant manner even during conditions ofany one of a group consisting of transport, storage, impact, change oftemperature, and mechanical stress, wherein said mechanism formaintaining said tape in said taut state further includes: locking meansfor preventing said second rotating reel from rotating; and means forforming a resilient recall, such that when said cassette is outside ofand not received in the receiving apparatus, said means for forming saidresilient recall applies a stress to said first drive means and to saidlocking means, and such that when said second rotating reel is preventedfrom rotating by said locking means, said first drive means rotatablydrives said first rotating reel until said tape reaches a preselectedposition of tension, said stress of said means for forming saidresilient recall aiding in maintaining said tape in said taut stateaccording to said preselected position of tension of said tape,regardless of said conditions of any one of said group consisting oftransport, storage, impact, change of temperature, and mechanicalstress, wherein each of said first and second rotating reels include atoothed wheel, and wherein said first means for rotatably driving saidfirst rotating reel includes a curved rack, said curved rack beingrotatable about an axis of rotation.
 6. A replaceable cassettecomprising: a tape; first and second rotating reels each having saidtape wound therearound beginning with first and second ends,respectively, of said tape, each of said first and second rotating reelsadapted to fit over a spindle of a receiving apparatus when saidcassette is inside of and received in the receiving apparatus, and eachof said first and second rotating reels including: a mechanism formaintaining said tape in a taut state, wherein said mechanism formaintaining said tape in said taut state includes first drive means forrotatably driving said first rotating reel in a first direction, suchthat when said cassette is outside of and not received in the receivingapparatus, said mechanism for maintaining said tape in said taut state,maintains said tape in said taut state in a substantially constantmanner even during conditions of any one of a group consisting oftransport, storage, impact, change of temperature, and mechanicalstress, wherein said mechanism for maintaining said tape in said tautstate further includes: locking means for preventing said secondrotating reel from rotating; and means for forming a resilient recall,such that when said cassette is outside of and not received in thereceiving apparatus, said means for forming said resilient recallapplies a stress to said first drive means and to said locking means,and such that when said second rotating reel is prevented from rotatingby said locking means, said first drive means rotatably drives saidfirst rotating reel until said tape reaches a preselected position oftension, said stress of said means for forming said resilient recallaiding in maintaining said tape in said taut state according to saidpreselected position of tension of said tape, regardless of saidconditions of any one of said group consisting of transport, storage,impact, change of temperature, and mechanical stress, wherein any one ofa group consisting of said locking means and said first and second drivemeans are carried by a plate, said plate being rotatable about an axisof rotation.
 7. A tape-consuming apparatus and a replaceable cassettecomprising: said replaceable cassette including: a tape; first andsecond rotating reels each having said tape wound therearound beginningwith first and second ends, respectively, of said tape, each of saidfirst and second rotating reels adapted to fit over a spindle of areceiving apparatus when said cassette is inside of and received in thereceiving apparatus, and each of said first and second rotating reelsincluding: a mechanism for maintaining said tape in a taut state,wherein said mechanism for maintaining said tape in said taut stateincludes first drive means for rotatably driving said first rotatingreel in a first direction, such that when said cassette is outside ofand not received in the receiving apparatus, said mechanism formaintaining said tape in said taut state, maintains said tape in saidtaut state in a substantially constant manner even during conditions ofany one of a group consisting of transport, storage, impact, change oftemperature, and mechanical stress; and said tape-consuming apparatusreceiving said cassette therein, said tape-consuming apparatuscomprising: a fixed tappet; and a moving tappet for actuating, in adirection of disengagement, means of said mechanism for maintaining saidtape in said taut state.
 8. A replaceable cassette comprising: a tape;first and second rotating reels each having said tape wound therearoundbeginning with first and second ends, respectively, of said tape, eachof said first and second rotating reels adapted to fit over a spindle ofa receiving apparatus when said cassette is inside of and received inthe receiving apparatus, and each of said first and second rotatingreels including: a mechanism configured to maintain said tape in a tautstate, wherein said mechanism configured to maintain said tape in saidtaut state includes first drive mechanism configured to rotatably drivesaid first rotating reel in a first direction, such that when saidcassette is outside of and not received in the receiving apparatus, saidmechanism configured to maintain said tape in said taut state, maintainssaid tape in said taut state in a substantially constant manner evenduring conditions of any one of a group consisting of transport,storage, impact, change of temperature, and mechanical stress, whereinsaid mechanism configured to maintain said tape in said taut statefurther includes: a locking mechanism configured to prevent said secondrotating reel from rotating; and a mechanism configured to a resilientrecall, such that when said cassette is outside of and not received inthe receiving apparatus, said mechanism configured to form saidresilient recall applies a stress to said first drive mechanism and tosaid locking mechanism, and such that when said second rotating reel isprevented from rotating by said locking mechanism, said first drivemechanism rotatably drives said first rotating reel until said tapereaches a preselected position of tension, said stress of said mechanismconfigured to form said resilient recall aiding in maintaining said tapein said taut state according to said preselected position of tension ofsaid tape, regardless of said conditions of any one of said groupconsisting of transport, storage, impact, change of temperature, andmechanical stress, wherein each of said first and second rotating reelsincludes a toothed wheel and said locking mechanism includes at leastone tooth configured to prevent said toothed wheel of said secondrotating reel from rotating.
 9. A replaceable cassette comprising: atape; first and second rotating reels each having said tape woundtherearound beginning with first and second ends, respectively, of saidtape, each of said first and second rotating reels adapted to fit over aspindle of a receiving apparatus when said cassette is inside of andreceived in the receiving apparatus, and each of said first and secondrotating reels including: a mechanism configured to maintain said tapein a taut state, wherein said mechanism configured to maintain said tapein said taut state includes first drive mechanism configured torotatably drive said first rotating reel in a first direction, such thatwhen said cassette is outside of and not received in the receivingapparatus, said mechanism configured to maintain said tape in said tautstate, maintains said tape in said taut state in a substantiallyconstant manner even during conditions of any one of a group consistingof transport, storage, impact, change of temperature, and mechanicalstress, wherein said mechanism configured to maintain said tape in saidtaut state includes: a second mechanism configured to rotatably drivesaid second rotating reel in a second direction, contrary to said firstdirection; a mechanism configured to form a resilient recall, such thatwhen said cassette is outside of and not received in the receivingapparatus, said mechanism configured to form said resilient recallapplies a stress to said first and second drive mechanisms, and saidfirst and second drive mechanisms rotatably drive said first and secondrotating reels, respectively, in said first and second directions,respectively, until any slack in said tape is compensated for and saidtape is brought into a preselected position of tension, said stress ofsaid mechanism configured to form said resilient recall aiding inmaintaining said tape in said taut state according to said preselectedposition of tension, regardless of said conditions of any one of saidgroup consisting of transport, storage, impact, change of temperature,and mechanical stress.
 10. The replaceable cassette according to claim9, wherein each of said first and second rotating reels includes atoothed wheel, and wherein said first mechanism configured to rotatablydrive said first rotating reel in said first direction includes a curvedrack, said curved rack being rotatable about an axis of rotation. 11.The replaceable cassette according to claim 9, wherein any one of agroup consisting of said locking mechanism and said first and seconddrive mechanisms are carried by a plate, said plate being rotatableabout an axis of rotation.
 12. A replaceable cassette comprising: atape; first and second rotating reels each having said tape woundtherearound beginning with first and second ends, respectively, of saidtape, each of said first and second rotating reels adapted to fit over aspindle of a receiving apparatus when said cassette is inside of andreceived in the receiving apparatus, and each of said first and secondrotating reels including: a mechanism configured to maintain said tapein a taut state, wherein said mechanism configured to maintain said tapein said taut state includes first drive mechanism configured torotatably drive said first rotating reel in a first direction, such thatwhen said cassette is outside of and not received in the receivingapparatus, said mechanism configured to maintain said tape in said tautstate, maintains said tape in said taut state in a substantiallyconstant manner even during conditions of any one of a group consistingof transport, storage, impact, change of temperature, and mechanicalstress, wherein said mechanism configured to maintain said tape in saidtaut state further includes: a locking mechanism configured to preventsaid second rotating reel from rotating; and a mechanism configured to aresilient recall, such that when said cassette is outside of and notreceived in the receiving apparatus, said mechanism configured to formsaid resilient recall applies a stress to said first drive mechanism andto said locking mechanism, and such that when said second rotating reelis prevented from rotating by said locking mechanism, said first drivemechanism rotatably drives said first rotating reel until said tapereaches a preselected position of tension, said stress of said mechanismconfigured to form said resilient recall aiding in maintaining said tapein said taut state according to said preselected position of tension ofsaid tape, regardless of said conditions of any one of said groupconsisting of transport, storage, impact, change of temperature, andmechanical stress, wherein each of said first and second rotating reelsinclude a toothed wheel, and wherein said first mechanism configured torotatably drive said first rotating reel includes a curved rack, saidcurved rack being rotatable about an axis of rotation.
 13. A replaceablecassette comprising: a tape; first and second rotating reels each havingsaid tape wound therearound beginning with first and second ends,respectively, of said tape, each of said first and second rotating reelsadapted to fit over a spindle of a receiving apparatus when saidcassette is inside of and received in the receiving apparatus, and eachof said first and second rotating reels including: a mechanismconfigured to maintain said tape in a taut state, wherein said mechanismconfigured to maintain said tape in said taut state includes first drivemechanism configured to rotatably drive said first rotating reel in afirst direction, such that when said cassette is outside of and notreceived in the receiving apparatus, said mechanism configured tomaintain said tape in said taut state, maintains said tape in said tautstate in a substantially constant manner even during conditions of anyone of a group consisting of transport, storage, impact, change oftemperature, and mechanical stress, wherein said mechanism configured tomaintain said tape in said taut state further includes: a lockingmechanism configured to prevent said second rotating reel from rotating;and a mechanism configured to a resilient recall, such that when saidcassette is outside of and not received in the receiving apparatus, saidmechanism configured to form said resilient recall applies a stress tosaid first drive mechanism and to said locking mechanism, and such thatwhen said second rotating reel is prevented from rotating by saidlocking mechanism, said first drive mechanism rotatably drives saidfirst rotating reel until said tape reaches a preselected position oftension, said stress of said mechanism configured to form said resilientrecall aiding in maintaining said tape in said taut state according tosaid preselected position of tension of said tape, regardless of saidconditions of any one of said group consisting of transport, storage,impact, change of temperature, and mechanical stress, wherein any one ofa group consisting of said locking mechanism and said first and seconddrive mechanisms are carried by a plate, said plate being rotatableabout an axis of rotation.
 14. A tape-consuming apparatus and areplaceable cassette comprising: said replaceable cassette including: atape; first and second rotating reels each having said tape woundtherearound beginning with first and second ends, respectively, of saidtape, each of said first and second rotating reels adapted to fit over aspindle of a receiving apparatus when said cassette is inside of andreceived in the receiving apparatus, and each of said first and secondrotating reels including: a mechanism configured to maintain said tapein a taut state, wherein said mechanism configured to maintain said tapein said taut state includes first drive mechanism configured torotatably drive said first rotating reel in a first direction, such thatwhen said cassette is outside of and not received in the receivingapparatus, said mechanism configured to maintain said tape in said tautstate, maintains said tape in said taut state in a substantiallyconstant manner even during conditions of any one of a group consistingof transport, storage, impact, change of temperature, and mechanicalstress; and said tape-consuming apparatus receiving said cassettetherein, said tape-consuming apparatus comprising: a fixed tappet; and amoving tappet configured to actuate, in a direction of disengagement,means of said mechanism configured to maintain said tape in said tautstate.